BALDWIN’S CASE – SABOTAGED – DISMISSED
By Ruthie DiTucci
On this 3rd day of a 10-day trial – Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed Alec Baldwin’s case “with prejudice” because discovery procedures were not respected. The nature and actual original of serious ammunition evidence and related material was never shared with Baldwin’s attorneys. In fact, the prosecutors and District Attorney quietly hid the evidence by placing it under a different case number and labeling it “supplemental.” The judge said quite firmly that the behavior was deliberate and malicious.
Alec Baldwin “Rust” trial special prosecutor Erlinda Johnson, who resigned unexpectedly, says based on the evidence she was provided with, Baldwin’s “horseplay” with the gun “could be” considered “reckless.” But when she realized evidence was being improperly hid – she quit. Why did she quit? Because her moral and ethical standards are THE SAME.
PROSECUTOR QUIT WHEN SHE LEARNED EVIDENCE WASN’T SHARED PROPERLY
The Lead Investigator, and Prosecutors, were given ammunition evidence by Troy Teske but they decided “jointly” to put the evidence in their “evidence” holding area “separately” from the case evidence. The judge made it clear that this was not acceptable. The district attorney had condoned deliberately hiding evidence. None of this material was shared with Baldwin’s team as required by law.
This is a huge win for Alec Baldwin and his attorneys.
On the day of the shooting, Baldwin pointed at the armorer and told everyone that she was responsible for ensuring there were no live rounds on set. Baldwin said he pulled the gun and “it shot” as though it happened by the will of the gun. He implied he had nothing to do with it. In reality, a gun cannot “shoot” unless the trigger is pulled. Baldwin claimed the gun just went off by itself – he claims that he “never pulled the trigger.” What Baldwin and his lawyers did not know was that their case was sabotaged.
Alec Baldwin’s attorneys have argued that the government’s testing caused the damage, which they claim destroyed crucial evidence. However, prosecutors say that while the gun was damaged, it was not completely destroyed and remains available for review.
In an almost ridiculous twist to this story, the gun Alec Baldwin used in the “Rust” movie incident was damaged during FBI testing. And now, the judge has dismissed the entire case.
Not surprisingly, Alec Baldwin placed the entire responsibility of the incident at the feet of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. His lawyers are totally against Baldwin testifying because he’s quick to lose his temper and more importantly, he can do himself great damage due to his hubris.
The shooting occurred on Oct. 21, 2021, at the Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe, where the film was being shot. Baldwin, who was also a producer of the film, was rehearsing a scene in which he had to point a Colt .45 revolver at the camera. The gun, which was handed to him by assistant director Dave Halls, was supposed to be a prop gun loaded with blanks. However, it turned out to be loaded with a live round that struck Hutchins in the chest and director Joel Souza in the shoulder. Hutchins, 42, died from her injuries, while Souza, 50, survived.
The investigation by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office revealed that there were several safety lapses and violations on the set, including the use of live ammunition for target practice, the lack of supervision and inspection of the firearms, and the mixing of dummy and live rounds in the same box. The sheriff’s office also alleged that Gutierrez-Reed handed off a small bag of cocaine to a friend after her interview with the police on the day of the shooting.
Baldwin, who has maintained that he did not pull the trigger and that he was unaware that the gun was loaded with a live round, was also initially charged with involuntary manslaughter in January 2023, but the charges were dropped three months later. However, he was re-indicted by a grand jury this past January and has pleaded not guilty.
Jury selection in Gutierrez-Reed’s trial is expected to last for several days, as both the prosecution and the defense will try to find impartial jurors who have not been influenced by the extensive media coverage of the case. The trial itself is expected to last until March 6, according to court documents.
In a move that contradicts his life, Alec Baldwin’s history includes multiple conflicts with paparazzi over privacy issues. Like many uninformed people, there is no expectation of privacy while in public. Baldwin has had numerous altercations with photographers and has been vocal about his desire for privacy. However, he and his wife, Hilaria Baldwin, recently announced they will star in a reality show called “The Baldwins,” which will air on TLC in 2025.
The show aims to give viewers an inside look at their family life, including the chaos of raising their seven children. This decision has raised eyebrows, especially considering Baldwin’s ongoing legal issues related to the “Rust” shooting incident.
It appears that despite his past behavior, Baldwin and his family are now willing to open up their lives to the public in a different way. This shift might be seen as a strategic move to reshape public perception or simply a new chapter in their lives.
